← Back to NASA Technology Projects
Completed TRL 5 (started at 3, targeting 5)
One of the key questions about lunar ice and regolith is what the spatial distribution and concentration of ice is and what the geotechnical properties of the regolith and ice mixture are. This project will combine dual percussive cone penetrometers with heaters and sensors based on a modified version of the TRIDENT drill stage from Honeybee Robotics. This allows geotechnical property measurements and differential calorimetry measurements to identify and quantify volatile content. The Percussive Hot Cone Penetrometer (PHCP) spot tests will be able to measure volatile composition and concentration in the test locations. Combined with high frequency ground penetrating radar to determine layers and continuity of the subsurface over large areas, this will allow horizontal and vertical spatial distribution measurements and identification of volatiles in the top 1 meter with a resolution of 0.1 wt% at 10 cm intervals as well as determination of geotechnical properties where PHCP spot tests are done.
Research will consist of measuring thermal release profiles of cryogenic volatiles in regolith, ground penetrating radar (GPR) calibration of subsurface ice and layering detection, developing the differential calorimetry instrument and integrate it with the percussive penetrometer, testing and selecting the best cone geometry for geotechnical property determination, laboratory, Dirty Thermal Vacuum Chamber (DTVAC) and field tests at Michigan Technological University and Honeybee Robotics of the PHCP and GPR to achieve TRL-5 or 6 by the end of the project.
The proposed project will provide a dramatic improvement in the direct in-situ measurement of ice concentration with depth at accuracy of 0.1 wt% at 10 cm vertical intervals. GPR (once calibrated by in-situ measurements) would provide continuous measurement. This will directly inform follow- on missions to the lunar surface and design of the ice mining and extraction equipment. The PHCP will be deployed from TRIDENT-based hammering drill system (designed for VIPER). As such, PHCP could fly on VIPER 2.0 in 2024 or 2025. This mission would directly inform the goals of 2028 sustainable lunar presence with mining of polar water ice. Synergy with Astrobotic’s SBIR funded GPR development effort would also be possible.
Listed on TechPort itself — the most direct way to ask about this specific project.
This is early/mid-stage (TRL 5) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.
None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.